Parliament takes on govt over K36bn swindled council money

Malawi Parliament has expressed concern that K36 billion has been swindled by councils, including councillors, stifling much needed development in many areas.

Kamlepo Kalua, deputy chairman of Public Affairs Committee of (PAC) parliament confirmed that the committee received and deliberated the Auditor General’s report when PAC met for the past two weeks.

“It is unfortunate that K36 billion has been swindled from councils which are already struggling to have money. We have made our recommendations. It is our hope that culprits will be taken to book,” said Kalua.

He however expressed worry that in most cases, the government is very slow to act or does not act at all as culprits are not fired, instead they keep on stealing from the public purse at the expense of development projects.

Treasury spokesman Nations Msowoya said as soon as the government gets the financial report on the councils, it will work on it.

He said the new system now entails all councils to return expenditure returns, bank reconciliation returns and other documentation every month which makes it difficult for councils to abuse government money.